2000–01 Washington Wizards season

The '''[[2000–01 Washington Wizards season]]''' was the 40th season for the [[Washington Wizards]] in the [[National Basketball Association]], and their 28th season in [[Washington, D.C.]][https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2001.html 2000-01 Washington Wizards] The city of Washington, D.C. hosted the [[NBA All-Star weekend]] at the [[Capital One Arena|MCI Center]] this season, which also featured the [[2001 NBA All-Star Game]]. During the off-season, the Wizards acquired [[Felipe López (basketball)|Felipe López]] and [[Cherokee Parks]] from the [[1999–2000 Vancouver Grizzlies season|Vancouver Grizzlies]],{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = In Trade, Wizards Get 4 for the Price of 1 | work = The Washington Post | date = August 23, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/08/23/in-trade-wizards-get-4-for-the-price-of-1/937bfd67-b77e-4f98-8db0-43501496a79c/ | access-date = June 28, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Rededicated, Eh? Ike Sent to Vancouver | work = Deseret News | date = August 23, 2000 | url = https://www.deseret.com/2000/8/23/19525089/rededicated-eh-ike-sent-to-vancouver | access-date = November 27, 2022}} acquired [[Popeye Jones]] from the [[1999–2000 Denver Nuggets season|Denver Nuggets]],{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Wizards Trade Murray to Nuggets | work = The Washington Post | date = September 26, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/09/26/wizards-trade-murray-to-nuggets/0e716cde-bdc6-40a4-8470-7f693d1fd819/ | access-date = November 26, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; West Side Story, the Sequel | work = The New York Times | date = October 30, 2000 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/30/sports/pro-basketball-west-side-story-the-sequel.html | access-date = July 16, 2022}} and hired [[Leonard Hamilton]] as their new head coach;{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Hamilton Joins the Wizards | work = The Washington Post | date = June 15, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/06/15/hamilton-joins-the-wizards/bb378023-ccc0-4adf-b89f-24df3bac1fcd/ | access-date = November 26, 2022}} Parks was later on traded to the [[2000–01 Los Angeles Clippers season|Los Angeles Clippers]] in exchange for [[Tyrone Nesby]] early into the regular season.{{cite news | last = White | first = Lonnie | title = Clippers Ease Jam by Trading Nesby | work = Los Angeles Times | date = November 29, 2000 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-29-sp-58737-story.html?_amp=true | access-date = January 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Nesby Brings Depth, Attitude to Wizards | work = The Washington Post | date = December 1, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/12/01/nesby-brings-depth-attitude-to-wizards/41df27bb-1ec1-4f4d-bc61-67c163ec02d7/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}}

The '''[[2000–01 Washington Wizards season]]''' was the 40th season for the [[Washington Wizards]] in the [[National Basketball Association]], and their 28th season in [[Washington, D.C.]][https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2001.html 2000-01 Washington Wizards] The city of Washington, D.C. hosted the [[NBA All-Star weekend]] at the [[Capital One Arena|MCI Center]] this season, which also featured the [[2001 NBA All-Star Game]]. During the off-season, the Wizards acquired [[Felipe López (basketball)|Felipe López]] and [[Cherokee Parks]] from the [[1999–2000 Vancouver Grizzlies season|Vancouver Grizzlies]],{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = In Trade, Wizards Get 4 for the Price of 1 | work = The Washington Post | date = August 23, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/08/23/in-trade-wizards-get-4-for-the-price-of-1/937bfd67-b77e-4f98-8db0-43501496a79c/ | access-date = June 28, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Rededicated, Eh? Ike Sent to Vancouver | work = Deseret News | date = August 23, 2000 | url = https://www.deseret.com/2000/8/23/19525089/rededicated-eh-ike-sent-to-vancouver | access-date = November 27, 2022}} acquired [[Popeye Jones]] from the [[1999–2000 Denver Nuggets season|Denver Nuggets]],{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Wizards Trade Murray to Nuggets | work = The Washington Post | date = September 26, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/09/26/wizards-trade-murray-to-nuggets/0e716cde-bdc6-40a4-8470-7f693d1fd819/ | access-date = November 26, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; West Side Story, the Sequel | work = The New York Times | date = October 30, 2000 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/30/sports/pro-basketball-west-side-story-the-sequel.html | access-date = July 16, 2022}} and hired [[Leonard Hamilton]] as their new head coach;{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Hamilton Joins the Wizards | work = The Washington Post | date = June 15, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/06/15/hamilton-joins-the-wizards/bb378023-ccc0-4adf-b89f-24df3bac1fcd/ | access-date = November 26, 2022}} Parks was later on traded to the [[2000–01 Los Angeles Clippers season|Los Angeles Clippers]] in exchange for [[Tyrone Nesby]] early into the regular season.{{cite news | last = White | first = Lonnie | title = Clippers Ease Jam by Trading Nesby | work = Los Angeles Times | date = November 29, 2000 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-29-sp-58737-story.html?_amp=true | access-date = January 11, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Nesby Brings Depth, Attitude to Wizards | work = The Washington Post | date = December 1, 2000 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/12/01/nesby-brings-depth-attitude-to-wizards/41df27bb-1ec1-4f4d-bc61-67c163ec02d7/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}}

The Wizards continued to struggle posting a nine-game losing streak between November and December. The team lost nine straight games again in January leading to an awful 7–34 start to the regular season, and later holding a 12–37 record at the All-Star break,{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 8, 2001 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=8&year=2001 | access-date = October 18, 2025}} as [[Mitch Richmond]] only played just 37 games due to knee injuries.{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Injured Strickland Back at Practice | work = The Washington Post | date = January 15, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/01/15/injured-strickland-back-at-practice/0283eb9e-3b5b-4e3c-a23e-dc26b5a7e84d/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Richmond, Wizards Likely Done | work = The Washington Post | date = April 5, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/04/05/richmond-wizards-likely-done/aaa4cc0c-0466-4cc2-b97f-60509f6b23e6/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}} At mid-season, [[Juwan Howard]], who grew disgruntled with all the team failures, was traded along with second-year center [[Calvin Booth]] to the [[2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]] in exchange for [[Christian Laettner]], [[Hubert Davis]], [[Loy Vaught]] and rookies; shooting guard [[Courtney Alexander]] and power forward [[Etan Thomas]], who was out for the entire regular season due to a toe injury he sustained with the Mavericks,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Mutombo, Howard Are on the Move | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 23, 2001 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-23-sp-29262-story.html | access-date = October 19, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Salary-Minded Wizards Put on Trading Cap | work = The Washington Post | date = February 23, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/02/23/salary-minded-wizards-put-on-trading-cap/41bd6713-9206-431e-80b5-268c21af2df3/ | access-date = July 23, 2021}} while Lopez was released to free agency, and later on signed with the [[2000–01 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota Timberwolves]].{{cite news | title = Lopez Latches on with Minnesota | work = United Press International | date = February 28, 2001 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/02/28/Lopez-latches-on-with-Minnesota/3151983336400/ | access-date = November 27, 2022}}

Under Leonard Hamilton, the Wizards continued to struggle posting a nine-game losing streak between November and December. The team posted another nine-game losing streak in January leading to an awful 7–34 start to the regular season, and later holding a 12–37 record at the All-Star break,{{cite web | title = NBA Games Played on February 8, 2001 | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=8&year=2001 | access-date = October 18, 2025}} as [[Mitch Richmond]] only played just 37 games due to knee injuries.{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Injured Strickland Back at Practice | work = The Washington Post | date = January 15, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/01/15/injured-strickland-back-at-practice/0283eb9e-3b5b-4e3c-a23e-dc26b5a7e84d/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Richmond, Wizards Likely Done | work = The Washington Post | date = April 5, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/04/05/richmond-wizards-likely-done/aaa4cc0c-0466-4cc2-b97f-60509f6b23e6/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}} At mid-season, [[Juwan Howard]], who grew disgruntled with all the team failures, was traded along with second-year center [[Calvin Booth]] to the [[2000–01 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]] in exchange for [[Christian Laettner]], [[Hubert Davis]], [[Loy Vaught]] and rookies; shooting guard [[Courtney Alexander]] and power forward [[Etan Thomas]], who was out for the entire regular season due to a toe injury he sustained with the Mavericks,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Mutombo, Howard Are on the Move | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 23, 2001 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-23-sp-29262-story.html | access-date = October 19, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Salary-Minded Wizards Put on Trading Cap | work = The Washington Post | date = February 23, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/02/23/salary-minded-wizards-put-on-trading-cap/41bd6713-9206-431e-80b5-268c21af2df3/ | access-date = July 23, 2021}} while Lopez was released to free agency, and later on signed with the [[2000–01 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota Timberwolves]].{{cite news | title = Lopez Latches on with Minnesota | work = United Press International | date = February 28, 2001 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/02/28/Lopez-latches-on-with-Minnesota/3151983336400/ | access-date = November 27, 2022}}

After the trade deadline, [[Rod Strickland]], who was also disgruntled playing for the Wizards, was also released and later on re-signed with his former team, the [[2000–01 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]].{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; Talented Strickland Again Jumps the Line | work = The New York Times | date = March 4, 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/04/sports/pro-basketball-notebook-talented-strickland-again-jumps-the-line.html | access-date = June 9, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Strickland to Sign with Trail Blazers | work = The Washington Post | date = March 3, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/03/03/strickland-to-sign-with-trail-blazers/1195e6a7-2cb1-456d-870d-69002a72e73a/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}} The Wizards lost nine of their final ten games of the season, finishing in last place in the [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] with a dreadful 19–63 record,{{cite web | title = 2000–01 Washington Wizards Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2001_games.html | access-date = September 17, 2021}} their worst to that point over a full 82-game season, although subsequently equalled by [[2008–09 Washington Wizards season|the 2008–09 Wizards]].

After the trade deadline, [[Rod Strickland]], who was also disgruntled playing for the Wizards, was also released and later on re-signed with his former team, the [[2000–01 Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]].{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; Talented Strickland Again Jumps the Line | work = The New York Times | date = March 4, 2001 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/04/sports/pro-basketball-notebook-talented-strickland-again-jumps-the-line.html | access-date = June 9, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = Strickland to Sign with Trail Blazers | work = The Washington Post | date = March 3, 2001 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/03/03/strickland-to-sign-with-trail-blazers/1195e6a7-2cb1-456d-870d-69002a72e73a/ | access-date = October 19, 2022}} The Wizards lost nine of their final ten games of the season, finishing in last place in the [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] with a dreadful 19–63 record,{{cite web | title = 2000–01 Washington Wizards Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2001_games.html | access-date = September 17, 2021}} their worst to that point over a full 82-game season, although subsequently equalled by [[2008–09 Washington Wizards season|the 2008–09 Wizards]].